QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST

Clarification from the agency

Priority Placement Program will be cleared. Area I: Current On-board Title 5 or Title 32 Dual Status Technicians (Tenure: 1-Career, 2-Conditional, 3-Indefinite or 4-Term ) - Only those current Vermont National Guard employees who are in permanent, indefinite, or term technician status as result of being competitively hired by the Vermont National Guard. Area II: All current Federal Employees from any agency. Area III: All current and former members of the VTNG. Area IV: United States citizens.

1. This position serves as a Contracting Officer Representative on behalf of the F-35 Joint Program Office who evaluates the Quality Management System, ensuring that all contractual, regulatory, and administrative requirements are met. Develops and implements procedures and policies that ensure a successful COR surveillance program and clarifies and explains policy and regulatory material. Develops and implements a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) based on the contractor's Quality Management System, Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), and Statement of Work (SOW). Recommends changes, updates, and alterations to the existing contract through the Joint Program Office to the Procuring Contract Officer. Reports contractor performance and ensures checklists or summaries correlate properly to contract provisions and provides sufficient data on which to base renewal/termination decisions based on regulatory requirements. Coordinates with commanders, flight chiefs, work center leaders, and contract specialists to review contract discrepancy reports and contractor responses. Evaluates trends and assists in determining circumstances, precedents, contract provisions, governmental directives, and precedent setting Comptroller General Decisions. Spot checks contractor and contract oversight files to verify functional area reports and institutes procedures to correct problems and preclude recurrence, e.g., to revise ineffective surveillance plans, contract administration plans, inspection checklists, etc. Maintains the organization's inputs into the DoD Contracting Officer Representative Tracking Tool. Maintains a record of all COR designations and terminations of designations, to include each COR's acknowledgement of his or her duties, by contract number and contracting officer's name. Maintains a record of training regardless of provider (e.g. Quality Assurance Program Coordinator (QAPC), contract officer, contract specialist, DAU, or commercial training provider).

2. Policy development, planning, review, research, and program execution oversight for contracted F-35 programs, including but not limited to, vendor site manager, simulator facilities, mission planning, logistics, and security. Works with Joint Program Office (JPO) Lead COR, Product Support Team (PST), and local leadership. Oversees and evaluates contractor performance in mission planning, ALIS and Full Mission Simulator. Conducts initial facility security clearance surveys of contractor facilities to determine their ability to work with and store classified information, including information generated or stored in Automated Information System (AIS). Facilitates contractor access to base facilities and work site. Ensures access credentials are recovered upon contractor dismissal/contract completion. Provides consultation and troubleshooting. The QAS/COR uses initiative and works independently or within teams, follows all approved procedures. QAS/COR will provide written and oral communications. The incumbent demonstrates familiarity with security programs, instructional systems and design (ISO), and aircraft maintenance to advise key officials, members of boards and committees, and military and civilian program managers on all aspects of policy, planning, review, and research as it relates to contract execution.

3. Reviews a wide range of pre- and post-award contracting actions related to the Interim Contract Support package to ensure all regulatory and procedural requirements have been met at the local level. Reviews and evaluates contract actions for adequacy and completeness and makes recommendations to ensure incorporation of latest policies and initiatives, and that the actions are compliant with all public laws, statutes, and regulations. Assists the JPO acquisition team during market research efforts to determine commercial quality assurance practices. Ensures pre-award, contract, and post-award documents and supporting documentation are accurate, complete, clear, concise, enforceable, and in compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, and directives. Identifies errors, makes comments, and provides feedback to Contract Specialists for correction of deficiencies. Writes clear, concise, and technically accurate memoranda, letters, documents, or reports that support contractual actions or recommendations. Documents reviews and provides recommendations to clearance review authorities.

4. Provides advisory assistance to functional area personnel involved in developing/revising technical specifications, Performance Work Statements (PWS), Statements of Work (SOW), Statements of Objectives (SOO), Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASP), Performance Requirements Summary (PRS), and COR checklists to ensure that contractors meets the intent of their contracts. Participates in conferences, meetings, and planning sessions to analyze requirements;

**REFER TO PD FOR FULL LIST OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES**

Conditions of employment

• Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• May occasionally be required to work other than normal duty hours; overtime may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position.
• May be required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
• May be required to travel by car, in military and/or commercial aircraft, and by other means of transportation as appropriate to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Incumbent required to complete all training IAW NAVAIRINST 4200.357 or other updated regulatory guidance within 6 months of assignment to the position.

Qualifications

OPEN AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: AREA 1, 2, 3, 4
Area I: Current On-board Title 5 or Title 32 Dual Status Technicians (Tenure: 1-Career, 2-Conditional, 3-Indefinite or 4-Term ) - Only those current Vermont National Guard employees who are in permanent, indefinite, or term technician status as result of being competitively hired by the Vermont National Guard.
Area II: All current Federal Employees from any agency.
Area III: All current and former members of the VTNG.
Area IV: United States citizens.
* Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Experience in fields such as quality control, quality inspection, contracting and purchasing, supply and storage, industrial or production planning, research and engineering, maintenance, and test and evaluation that provided
(1) familiarity with quality assurance or related work,
(2) pertinent product or process knowledge and skill,
(3) ability to interpret and apply contract requirements and engineering specifications,
(4) skill in dealing with others in person-to-person work relationships.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 1-year specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade. In addition to the OPM IORs, specialized experience includes experience, education, or training involving a thorough knowledge of product or range of products involved, the manufacturing methods and techniques, special processes, test, and performance requirements; and skill in developing plans and programs. Experience possessed by an expert in specialization able to give technical direction to otherwise competent workers. Experience determining operations when difficult and questionable phases of malfunctions are found. Experience which required significant and concrete work accomplishments (i.e., special projects, working groups, or detailing assignments) involving interpersonal contacts in a quality assurance or related field. Experience in dealing with management principles and supervisory responsibility for the function required by type of position to be filled and the organization involved.

Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge in monitoring, controlling, or maintaining the quality of products or services in quality assurance, procurement, inspection, production, or related areas. Examples include:

• Reviewing production activities and capabilities in light of contract quality requirements.
• Reviewing written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy, and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of quality/inspection systems, including sampling plans.
• Analyzing quality data to detect unsatisfactory trends or weaknesses in the quality/inspection system.
• Verifying by test or inspection, using sampling inspection or intensive product inspection techniques, that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance.
• Identifying inadequacies and requesting corrective action.
• Computing data, summarizing results, and preparing reports or charts depicting pertinent relationships using statistical methods.
• Investigating customer complaints and deficiency reports, and providing identification of causes to appropriate authorities.
• Reading, interpreting, and applying technical data such as blueprints, engineering drawings, product specifications, or technical manuals.
• Reviewing and evaluating supply systems operations and procedures through periodic audits and surveillance inspections.

Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Candidates' experience should be evaluated based on the duties performed rather than strictly on the rank of the individual; however, established compatibility criteria/assignments must be followed. The applicant's record of experience, training, and education must show possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

CONTINUATION OF CONDITIONS EMPLOYMENT & NOTES:
-For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver's license for the state in which they live or are principally employed.

-For positions requiring a security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) the applicant must possess or be able to obtain a clearance within one year of appointment.

-Must be able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance and may be required to obtain access to Special Access Programs (SAP). SAP access mandates a 5-year reinvestigation cycle (or continuous evaluation) to maintain eligibility.

- This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. Head of Agency requests to exceed 14 days in a calendar year must be approved in advance by the National Guard, Director of Manpower and Personnel NGB-J1

-Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, 5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 2124. Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7, Joint Ethics Regulation, Effective May 15, 2024

-This is a Testing Designated Position TDP. The employee is subject to random drug testing. Pre­employment drug testing and participation in random drug testing is a condition of employment. Note: The caveat is that the states, territories, and the district cannot drug test until a drug free workplace policy has been established and approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.


Please be advised:
1. Specialized experience will be used to determine qualifications for the announced position.
2. An applicant's RESUME must provide, in detail, how they meet the specialized experience listed.
3. It must be documented with "from (mm/yy)" and "to (mm/yy)" dates and description of the specialized experience.
4. If education or a degree is required as part of the "Specialized Experience", you must include transcripts.

Do not copy the specialized experience qualifications word for word and place into your resume; you must describe your personal experience as it pertains to each statement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

--Knowledge of Federal, DoD and Air Force procurement statues, Executive orders, policies, and regulations to develop the installation's Quality Management System to ensure the activity's contracts are effectively awarded and administered.

--knowledge of aviation flight and ground operations principles and general knowledge of flight parameters sufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of the flight simulator personnel.

--Knowledge of contracting regulations, principles, and procedures applicable to pre- and post-award duties sufficient to review a wide range of specialized equipment, supply, service, and construction contracts; analyze contract changes for propriety of acquisition method, contract type, and documentation; and conduct analyses of problem areas.

--Knowledge of Quality Assurance Surveillance methods and procedures sufficient to determine which surveillance methods are to be used for a given acquisition to protect the government's interest and to determine that contractors are meeting contract specifications and provisions.

--Knowledge of technical and specification writing to provide advisory, consultant, and hands-on assistance to technical and functional area personnel engaged in developing PWSs, SOWs, QASPs, etc.

--Skill in written and oral communications sufficient to prepare written guidance and decisions; to explain and defend decisions to contracting personnel, contractors, or higher-level reviewing officials; and to prepare training materials and to conduct training for contracting personnel, COR personnel, COR supervisors and FCs/FDs.

--Ability to exercise judgment and initiative to identify those aspects of guides which apply to the contracting action, develops justification for adopting a contractual posture, tailors' provisions to meet special requirements, and develops criteria or justification involving COR activities.

You will be rated on the following core competencies:

1. Quality Assurance
2. Written Communication
3. Oral Communication
4. Data Analysis
5. Flight Systems

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume: resume must show relevant experience, where you worked, job title, detailed duties and accomplishments written in your own words (Do not plagiarize), employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.), hours per week and salary. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your position title, pay plan, series and grade. Your detailed experience should be listed under each job title with starting and ending dates. Resume must show applicants name and contact information.
2. Other supporting documents (as applicable):

• DD-214
• Veterans Preference
• Certifications
• For current Federal employees: Latest SF 50, Personnel Action
• NGB 22 (if you are a former member of the VTNG)

Helpful Hints for Applying:

- Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address and phone.
- Include details about the experience that relates to the position you are applying for.
- Be specific and always include Month and Year for the dates of your experience.
- Be sure to include your applicable military experience and explain the duties of the MOS/AFSC held.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position.

If you are using education to qualify for this position or education is a mandatory requirement to meet qualifications, You must submit copies of college transcripts that identify each course, the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. Submitting a certificate or a degree will not suffice. You must submit transcripts when required. Photocopies are acceptable.

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